Monday, January 31, 2011

Schools and libraries in Illinois promote the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award. It is a children's choice program for readers in grades four through eight. The 2012 Rebecca Caudill nominees were announced earlier today.

The purposes of the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award are:

To encourage children and young adults to read for personal satisfaction.To develop a statewide awareness of outstanding literature for children and young people and to promote a desire for literacy.To encourage cooperation among Illinois agencies providing educational and library service to young people. (http://www.rcyrba.org/)

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Kevin Henkes is a Renaissance man. He can do it all: mouse books, picture books, and novels.This afternoon I read Little White Rabbitto kindergarten. After every read-aloud, I say, "And that's the story of__________ by ___________." We clap for 5-7 seconds and then students share their favorite and least favorite parts and illustrations.

Here's what they said about Little White Rabbit:

Thank you, Kevin Henkes, for Little White Rabbit. It is a delight to read alone and to a group.

Returning to the beach cottage—a cottage named Scallop—where she has always celebrated her birthday is a special occasion for Alice Rice.

Who will see the first dolphin this time? The first pelican? What will have changed? Stayed the same? And will this be the year she finally finds a junonia shell?

Alice's friends are all returning, too. And she's certain her parents have the best party planned for her. Alice can't wait. If Alice is lucky, everything will be absolutely perfect. Will Alice be lucky?

Monday, January 24, 2011

I taught third grade for four years. Every morning I placed a book and a short message on two or three students' desks. Sometimes the books and students matched, and sometimes they did not. One morning a finicky reader foundAmulet: The Stonekeeper on his desk. He usually ignored the note and shoved the book in his desk. Not that day. The cover caught his eye. And guess what? He started reading the words and studying the pictures. He finished it during recess. On the way back to the classroom, he handed me Amulet and said, "When are you going to buy the second book?" A graphic novel reader was born. Thank you, Kazu Kibuishi.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

The same students visit the library every morning and ask, "Mr. Schu, do you have any new books?" I visit Anderson's Bookshop multiple times per week to keep these voracious readers happy. It is a job I LOVE and take seriously. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place made its way around this group. They held impromptu book discussions and talked about the characters for months. Thank you, Maryrose Wood, for giving us Penelope Lumley, Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Sometimes it happens, though not frequently, that I booktalk a book I have not read. It makes me feel extremely uncomfortable and unprepared. Missile Mouse was one of those booktalks. I stumbled through the talk and not one third grader checked it out . Given the underwhelming student response, I spent my lunch period searching for a book trailer. Voilà!I found an awesome music video/book trailer on Jake Parker's blog. The afternoon classes watched it and everyone wanted to read Missile Mouse. Thank you, Jake Parker, for helping me when I was in a pickle. (Note: The next day I read Missile Mouse.)

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Andrew Clements is the master of the school story. During college, I spent a semester immersed in his books.Frindle, The School Story, The Landry News, and The Janitor's Boy were scattered around my dorm room. His books appeared in multiple lesson plans and booktalks. Eventually, I experienced ANDREW CLEMENTS BURNOUT and stopped reading his books.

About Mr. Schu

I am a part-time lecturer at Rutgers University and the Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic. I work diligently to put the right book in every child's hand. Book trailers are one way to connect readers with books. (All opinions shared are on own.)